PLEASURE Park owner Henry Danter has said he is having second thoughts about creating a Barry Island museum, following a recent incident.

Plans to bring a museum to Barry Island Pleasure Park have been thrown into doubt after vandals damaged a treasured vintage lorry parked on site.

Showman and fairground owner, Henry Danter reported to police that his AEC Matador vehicle had its windows smashed, last week.

Mr Danter is in the process of restoring the vehicle to its former glory which was left outside within the grounds.

Mr Danter, 73, said he had hoped to restore around 20 classic vehicles, and fairground memorabilia, including arcade games, in a yet-to-be-built museum to add more to Barry Island’s attractions.

But he feared for the exhibits security if the park was going to be a target for crime.

He said: “There’s no insurance on it because it was going to go into a museum that I was hoping to build.

“It is pointless bringing anything down if there’s going to be damage.

“It has great sentimental value to me as I drove it 50 years ago and it was the lorry that made us. I drove that lorry from dawn to dusk.

“I’ve got second thoughts about a museum. The cars cost thousands and I don’t want to risk it.”

A South Wales Police spokesman confirmed that they were appealing for information in relation to a criminal damage offence at the Barry Island Pleasure Park sometime before May 11.

A spokeswoman said: “A World War Two vintage display lorry vehicle was damaged whereby bricks were thrown through the window of the vehicle.”

Contact 101 quoting ref 1700179569 or contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.